Featured Stories

More People = More Coal
Arizona's Crackdown Is Working
Environmentalists vs. The Border Fence


COMMENTARY: by NPG President Donald Mann

Last month, Americans across the country celebrated Earth Day and patted themselves on the back for a job well done over the past 38 years.

We have come a long way from the time when we ignored the damage we were doing to our environment in the name of progress and didn't really care how much we ravaged our planet and our communities along the way.

Today, environmentalism is such a key part of our lives that it is hard to escape the word "green." Our cars, homes, schools, businesses, and entire communities are all "going green" and we as a people and nation are much more attuned to the steps we have to take to keep our nation on a proper environmental course.

So the question has to be asked: With so much focus on the environment, why does today's ever-growing population crisis continue to be ignored?

The Pew Research Center recently reported that the U.S. can expect to see a population of 438 million people by 2050 - an increase of 134 million people in just 42 years. And few individuals - especially our elected leaders - are willing to step forward to claim that our nation is capable of accommodating them without paying a terrible price.

Throughout America we've done a fantastic job of reducing water pollution. However, because of population growth in many areas, we have now come to a point where we are no longer making major progress. It's only a matter of time until our efforts to keep our waterways clean cannot compete with ever-increasing numbers of people.

On the energy front, our nation's thirst for oil has increased dramatically in the past 38 years. Our increased dependence on foreign oil to keep up with our burgeoning population and economic expansion means we are sending countless billions of dollars out of our country that should be able to remain here at home to solve our nation's most critical problems. It is hopeful to believe that wind farms, solar energy and other technological breakthroughs will be able to address some of our skyrocketing energy needs in the future, but oil, coal and natural gas are going to continue to play the biggest energy role in the coming decades and expanding population pressures will only create greater demand for all three. The gains we have made in halting strip mining for coal and stopping oil exploration and development in the Arctic reserve and off our nation's coasts (as well as other pristine areas) may soon fall victim to ever-greater demands for energy.

Of course, as we hear more and more about global warming we are also learning how each individual's carbon footprint contributes to this problem. How are we ever going to get ahead if we do nothing to rein-in population now?

And when it comes to our valuable farmland and vulnerable wetlands, one only has to look at the rapid urban sprawl taking place around our cities or travel along any of our coasts to see how development, driven by population growth, is destroying so much of our nation's treasures.

I recently noted how different our country might be today had President Nixon accepted, rather than squelched, the recommendations of the Commission on Population Growth and the American Future, headed up by John D. Rockefeller, III back in 1972. Certainly an America focused on the dual challenges of caring for our environment while also working to halt and reverse population growth during the past 38 years would find us much farther along in meeting both challenges.

Today, it is not too late to put our nation on a positive population track that will complement our environmental advances rather than cancel them out. That is why NPG has focused on getting Congress to create a new Commission on Population Growth as part of our Campaign for a National Population Policy.

Join our efforts today to help make this goal a reality. Once we get population growth under control we can make Earth Day a true day of celebration of success for decades to come.


MORE PEOPLE = MORE COAL

With the record price for oil grabbing all of the headlines these days, few news stories focus on the ever-increasing demands for coal.

A recent front-page story in The Washington Post brought the bleak images of the environmental destruction surrounding "mountaintop mining" into the homes of millions of residents of our national capital area, many of whom don't realize that coal from nearby West Virginia supplies much of the energy needs.

The insightful, multi-page report by David Fahrenthold is reminiscent of stories from the 1970's which fueled efforts to rein-in strip mining. But today, mountaintop mining, which buries streams and destroys miles of forest, is not only okay with the EPA, it is accepted as a necessity. Greg Peck of the EPA's Office of Water is quoted as stating, "You've got a decision that's got to be made, on a daily basis, about the energy needs of this country."

The Post article, in talking about expanding mountaintop mining activity, notes that "The increase [for coal] came as the Washington region's demand for electricity grew 18 percent since 2001, driven by population growth and an increasingly wired culture." The story goes on to note that "the federal government has said, these mines have affected, or could affect by 2012, about 816,000 acres. That is an area 20 times the size of the District [of Columbia], scattered in patches all across Appalachia."

Looking to the future the story is quite muddled. Environmentalists in West Virginia would love to see the D.C. region curb some of its appetite for coal power while the energy companies that burn the coal claim they are presently getting no negative feedback about the environmentally destructive actions that bring forth the coal they need to keep their power plants operating. As the Washington metropolitan area continues to grow at a rate well above the national average, the future for many of today's beautiful, pristine West Virginia mountain tops and streams looks to be very short. Click on the link above for the full story.


ARIZONA'S CRACKDOWN IS WORKING

Those who advocate getting "tough" with illegal immigrants as the quickest and most rational way to deal with the ever-increasing problem of hordes of people sneaking into our country are pointing to the success of Arizona's new employer sanctions as a base to expand a national effort to solve the problem.

Newsweek Magazine's online story by Terry Greene Sterling posted last week tells how a controversial Arizona law that went into effect in January is having an impact. And while immigrants' rights activists are challenging the law in federal courts, illegals who were once willingly hired by employers who feared no sanctions, are getting the message that they are no longer wanted in the state and are moving out. State representative Russell Pearce, the law's sponsor, is quoted in the story as saying he believes the new legislation will eventually be seen as "the most effective and nondiscrimatory" anti-illegal immigration measure in the nation.

Of course, the new law is unpopular with the powerful forces in the construction and agriculture industries. For years, they have benefited from being able to hire cheap labor and make huge profits by ignoring requirements to check the legal status of prospective employees. These groups are predicting economic chaos, but that remains to be seen.

Much of the law's success in spreading "fear" into illegal immigrants who risk being caught and deported goes to Maricopa County (Phoenix area) Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has been a staunch advocate of fighting illegal aliens even before the new legislation made its way through the statehouse. As related in the Newsweek article, "Arpaio, who has worked out an agreement with federal authorities to catch undocumented immigrants, has turned over more that 11,300 illegal immigrants to the feds."

NPG applauds Arizona's new legislation and encourages our members to push for similar efforts - and aggressive action by law enforcement - in their home states. Click on the link above for the full story.


ENVIRONMENTALISTS vs. THE BORDER FENCE

The idea that environmental groups have not played a major role in the battle over illegal immigration has perplexed many people over the years.

It is only logical that with more than 65% of our future population growth tied to immigration, resulting in tens of millions more people putting increased pressure on our environment, groups such as the Sierra Club and the Defenders of Wildlife should be front and center in the fight to keep our nation's population in check.

But it is not that easy.

The two groups mentioned above have gone to federal court to stop construction of a border fence in certain areas because its existence could become an ecological disaster for a number of migrating animals. They have also convinced fourteen of some of the most powerful Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to stand with them in this fight.

The battle was heightened recently when the Department of Homeland Security exerted its authority to override environmental considerations and accelerate construction in the interests of "national security." The effort by DHS was to keep construction of the long-overdue border fence from being held hostage to endless delays based on environmental challenges. In its press release announcing the move, DHS made clear that environmental reviews will be conducted before any major construction begins in all areas and that it will work closely with the Department of Interior and other federal and state resource management agencies to minimize any impact to wildlife and the environment. Many individuals and groups fighting the fence feel that the government is rushing environmental impact statements, ignoring key issues and not acting in good faith.

Here at NPG we have constantly called for responsible actions - rather than endless debate, time-wasting confrontation and political games - to govern any and all efforts to halt illegal immigration. It is time for all groups, including the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, DHS and the Congressional leaders, to work together on this issue and come to an accommodation where we can move forward toward the goal of making our nation more secure while also protecting endangered species.


POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION NEWS NOTES

HEALTH CARE FOR THE AGING - ARE WE READY?

The National Academies issued a dire warning about health care and aging a few weeks ago and the report can be summed up in a single sentence: The nation's health care system is not prepared to deal with the coming glut of geriatric health problems.

The concern stems from the fact that by 2030 - just 22 years from now - the number of U.S. adults 65 and older will make up almost 20% of the population vs. today's 12 percent.

The answer? The Academies' Institute of Medicine recommends urgent action to boost the number of family members, doctors, and nurses trained to care for the elderly. How our nation will provide health care for tens of millions of additional elderly Americans is just one of the many social needs that we here at NPG hope Congress will identify and act on by creating a U.S. Commission on Population Growth which is part of our Campaign for a National Population Policy.


MARYLAND GOVERNOR: NO WIND ENERGY IN PUBLIC FORESTS

As wind energy continues to prove its value as a way to move our nation away from dependency on oil and natural gas, some tough choices have to be made. Many of these choices involve balancing the environment with the potential for harnessing the wind.

Earlier this month, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley came down on the side of the environment when he opted not to open conservation lands owned outright by the state to wind farm development. It was expected that the efforts by the U.S. Wind Force, who sought to lease and clear about 400 acres in the Potomac and Savage River state forests to erect 100 wind turbines, would net the state $30 million over 20 years.

The Maryland General Assembly recently passed and Governor O'Malley signed a bill that requires that 20 percent of the state's power come from renewable sources by 2022. PJM Interconnection, which operates the transmission grid for a 13-state area that includes Maryland, has stated that increased demand for energy in the area could result in rolling blackouts as early as 2011. The Governor's actions did not prohibit wind power development on private land.


ILLEGALS AND IDENTITY THEFT - A NEW TACTIC

As a result of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on poultry plants in five states earlier this month, the federal government asked a federal grand jury in Tyler, Texas, to return indictments against a sizeable number of defendants accused of obtaining and using Social Security numbers of others to obtain employment. If convicted, each could receive up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

In commenting on the action, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Julie Myers noted, "Criminal cases like these show how illegal immigrants can leave behind a trail of victims. A significant percentage of identity theft is carried out by illegal aliens trying to avoid detention and gain employment."


NEW YORK ASSEMBLY SAYS "NO" TO BLOOMBERG'S MANHATTAN TOLL

Few elected leaders have demonstrated such a commitment to environmental activism more than New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. On Earth Day last year he set "green goals" for America's largest city for 10, 20, 30 and even 50 years out - and has been aggressive in putting policies in place to make them come about.

However, political reality slapped the Mayor in the face earlier this month when the State Assembly Speaker, under pressure from elected Democrats throughout NYC's five boroughs put forth strong opposition to the Mayor's effort to copy London's new scheme to institute "congestion pricing." The concept would have charged a fee of $8 for cars and $21 for trucks to enter Manhattan below 60th street between 6 AM and 6 PM on weekdays. By reducing the massive amounts of cars that often create gridlock in that overcrowded area of Manhattan the goal was also to reduce air pollution from thousands of slow-crawling and idling vehicles.

In responding to the defeat, Mayor Bloomberg noted: "It takes courage to ask people to change - even if it really won't cost them much. It is sad but true. Political leaders today are afraid of their constituents."

The Mayor is very much on target and his comments sum up the tremendous challenge NPG faces every day in trying to get our elected leaders at all levels to face the reality of population growth and take the necessary steps now to halt and reverse our skyrocketing population.


BORDER FENCE FOLLOW-UP

Two steps forward and one step back...or is that two steps back?

Here at NPG we're not sure what to think about the action of the Department of Homeland Security in scrapping the "virtual fence" that Secretary Chertoff praised so highly only two months ago. The $20 million prototype built along a 28-mile section of the border southwest of Tucson, AZ was supposed to be a "state-of-the-art" way to protect our nation's southern flank without having to construct a real fence or physical barrier along hundreds of miles of the border.

The concept of a "virtual fence" - complete with a series of towers equipped with communications systems, cameras and radar - was essentially a token effort to appease those who thought that the idea of a physical barrier between the two countries sent the "wrong message." Sadly, the cancellation of this highly touted project sets back efforts for DHS to finally get control of the border. However, it should underscore the need to do the job right from the beginning without letting political correctness get in the way.


NPG NOTES

NOW IT'S TIME TO JUDGE

It's going to be a tough challenge to choose the final winners, but earlier this month marked the deadline for students to get their posters to NPG for their chance to win some of the great prize money we're awarding. The hundreds of posters we've received from schools across the country proved that young people of all ages are very attuned to today's population crisis and early reviews of their artwork prove that they approached this project and our subject of "Too Many People" in very creative ways. Following an intense round of judging, the winners of the poster contest will be announced on May 9, 2008.


NPG STILL FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

The over-fishing of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, combined with state budget cutbacks on funds to help reduce pollution in the nation's largest estuary, only underscore the ravages population size and growth are inflicting on this environmentally-fragile area. In the coming months, NPG will continue to build on the Chesapeake Bay project we launched last year to alert residents of the area to the destructive price they will pay for unchecked development when it comes to their quality of life and the need for them to pressure their elected leaders to put a halt to population growth. At present we are in the process of designing a new Chesapeake Bay Population Poster that will be distributed to schools in the area.


QUOTABLE

"The future is often viewed as an endless resource of innovation that will make problems go away - even though, if the past is any judge, innovations create their own set of problems. Climate change is at least in part a consequence of the invention of the steam engine in the early 1700's and all the industrial advances that followed.

We need to keep our eyes open. The future is going to be here sooner than we think. It'll surprise us. We'll try to figure out why we missed so many clues."

Joel Achenbach
Washington Post Columnist


"Taking care of our planet and environment is something like taking care of our own home. This blue planet is our only home."

Dalai Lama
Reflecting on Earth Day 2008


"The San Francisco Chronicle reported recently that Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a new initiative advertising his city as a sanctuary for illegal aliens. According to this report, San Francisco plans to spend $83,000 to print brochures in half a dozen languages reassuring illegal aliens that they are welcome to stay and access public services. He went on to declare that, 'We don't care what your status is, we want you to participate in the life of our city.'

It goes without saying that this is a dangerous policy, and it makes no sense in a post 9-11 environment."

Congressman Tom Tancredo


"Leadership is often remembered as the coupling of opportunity and implementation driven by a sense of responsibility to those we serve: the people.

Right now, leaders at all levels have a potent opportunity to guide our nation on the defining issue of our time: energy.

This is the lifeblood of our economy, tied inextricably to our competitiveness, quality of life and environment. The path that has brought us to this point will not address our future needs. So, we must address today's trials with the innovation, creativity and alacrity known uniquely to Americans...

...We need to begin with our end goals in mind. What are we doing today to ensure future generations can meet the energy needs of tomorrow? If we don't address this now, we're setting up ourselves, and those who follow, for failure. Our actions aren't for the benefit of tomorrow or the next election, but for 20 years and beyond. This is the time for action, for progress, for leadership."

The Honorable Jon Huntsman
Governor of Utah


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WHY THE NPG JOURNAL?

The NPG Journal (offered free to all recipients) exists to give more widespread distribution to timely news stories and articles related to population, immigration, environmental and political issues that currently affect our daily life -- or have the potential to seriously impact our futur

We realize not all news stories covering population issues will reflect NPG policies and goals. One of our main purposes in creating the NPG Journal is to expose these items to a wider audience, and to draw attention to the fact that so many articles speak to immigration and population issues but often fail to address the central cause of many problems - TOO MANY PEOPLE

Ultimately, NPG would like to see writers at all levels make the obvious (to us, at least) connection between environmental and resource problems and the growing umber of people in both the United States and the world. Unfortunately, most do not. To that end, we comment as necessary to help our readers see those links in hopes they will continue to speak out on what we deem to be the most pressing issue of our time - population size and growth.

NPG President Donald Mann offers his personal insight and commentary on individual stories, especially those that challenge, confirm and/or complement our NPG Research and Forum Papers. The goal of the NPG Journal is to greatly expand NPG's educational mission. As NPG celebrates its 35th Anniversary we continue to emphasize the need for Americans to speak up on population issues and keep our nation -- especially our elected leaders on the national, state and local level - focused on taking action to help resolve today's immigration crisis and work to halt, and eventually reverse America's out-of-control population grow

We welcome your feedback to articles posted on the NPG Journal and urge you to forward us the e-mail address of friends you think would like to receive a complimentary copy of the NPG Journal on a bi-weekly basis. Contact us at www.npg.org


ABOUT NPG

Negative Population Growth, Inc. (NPG) is a national nonprofit membership organization with over 30,000 members nationwide. It was founded in 1972 to educate the American public and political leaders about the devastating effects of overpopulation on our environment, resources, and standard of living. We believe that our nation is already vastly overpopulated in terms of the long-range carrying capacity of its resources and environme





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